LAS VEGAS, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The all-new Toyota Corolla XRS sport
sedan made its world premiere at a press conference today at the 2003
Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA) Show. The press conference
also featured the unveiling of the Toyota Tundra racing V8 engine that will
power the new Tundra race truck next year in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck
Series.
The Corolla XRS will feature a newly tuned version of Toyota's 2ZZ dual
overhead cam engine and six-speed manual transmission found in both the Celica
GT-S and Corolla Matrix XRS. The increase in power will be complemented by
improved ride and handling, thanks to a sport-tuned suspension and new
steering improvements.
"With the popularity of the sporty Corolla S, the logical next step was to
match its youthful styling with a performance-driven powertrain," said Don
Esmond, Toyota Division senior vice president and general manager. "We expect
the XRS to follow the course started by the S grade by appealing to younger
customers, with an increase in single male buyers."
The new Corolla XRS will be powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder DOHC
engine that produces 170 horsepower and 127 pounds of torque. The engine will
deliver a broader and stronger mid-range torque than the previous versions of
the 2ZZ engine. And, it will feature a VVTL-i variable valve timing and lift
system that produces a supercharged-like rise in power from 6,000 to 7,800
RPM. The result is a compact sport sedan that blends sub-eight-second
zero-to-sixty acceleration with exceptional throttle response throughout its
broad power band.
Despite the increase in power, fuel economy is hardly compromised with
initial estimates of 25 miles-per-gallon in the city and 32 on the highway.
The XRS features a sport-tuned suspension that includes a front connecting
rod damper developed by Yamaha. The damper is mounted between the shock
towers to produce improved ride and handling without compromising NVH. In
addition to the performance damper, the XRS features increased rate coil
springs and shocks on all four wheels for improved roll and pitch, and a ride
height that is lower by a full half-inch.
The suspension stands on larger 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels and Michelin
performance tires, an upgrade from the standard 15-inch wheels on all other
Corolla grades. It is complemented by a steering system that features a more
rigid steering column, producing less vibration and improved response. A
power steering rack specially developed for the XRS allows for better steering
feedback.
The improved performance of the Corolla XRS is accompanied by
performance-themed convenience enhancements including sport seats, color-keyed
bezel surrounding the grille, silver-colored center cluster and switch plates,
a leather-like shift boot with a leather shift knob, and unique badging.
The Corolla XRS will be built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Canada (TMMC)
in Cambridge, Ontario alongside the Matrix. It will reach dealerships on
May 1st of next year. Annual sales of the XRS are projected at approximately
5,000 units.
The SEMA Show unveiling of the Tundra Racing V8 for the Toyota Tundra race
truck represents one of the most critical steps in Toyota's journey to
NASCAR's victory lane. It follows a historic press conference at the 2003
Chicago Auto Show where Toyota first rolled out a race-prepared Tundra pickup
to formally announce its plans to begin participation in the NASCAR Craftsman
Truck Series.
"Once we had our truck, the next phase in its development was to create an
engine capable of achieving success in this competitive racing series," said
Dave Illingworth, senior vice president, chief planning and administrative
officer for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. (TRD).
The normally aspirated, Tundra Racing V8 engine was designed entirely in
America by Toyota Racing Development. TRD's technical capabilities came to
the forefront as they designed and produced "from a clean sheet of paper," an
overhead valve racing engine in a remarkably short period of time. The engine
design focused on high quality, performance, lightweight, reliability, and
ease of manufacture.
Measuring 358 cubic inches of displacement, the V8 is capable of producing
up to 650 horsepower. The cast aluminum cylinder head and cast iron cylinder
block both use a computer-optimized cooling system. The engine is also
equipped with forged aluminum pistons, forged steel connecting rods, and a
high strength billet steel crankshaft. Its fuel pump and exhaust were each
developed by TRD.
The engine's Craftsman Series debut will take place at historic Daytona
International Speedway in February 2004 where it will be represented by at
least six American-built Tundra race trucks.
Team affiliations will be determined soon. TRD will design, develop, and
build the Craftsman Truck Tundra V8 to NASCAR specifications in its Costa
Mesa, Calif., facility.
Toyota has been in the business of selling pickup trucks in this country
for nearly 40 years. Since 1991 Toyota's compact pickups have been
manufactured at its NUMMI plant in Fremont, California. Toyota has assembled
the full-size Tundra pickup exclusively at its Princeton, Ind. plant since its
debut in 1999. Toyota's commitment to building trucks continues to grow as
witnessed by the recent groundbreaking of its newest truck plant in San
Antonio, Texas.
"With Toyota's ongoing commitment to build American trucks for the
American truck buyer it made sense to become involved with a true form of
American racing," said Illingworth. "From an Americanization as well as a
marketing perspective, choosing NASCAR was a no-brainer."
Toyota's entry into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series further extends the
manufacturer's rich auto-racing history. Over the last 20 years, Toyota has
won championships in a variety of high-level racing series including IRL,
CART, IMSA, MTEG, SCORE, CORR, Pikes Peak, as well as NHRA import drag racing
and various SCCA classes.
Since 2000, Toyota has competed in the NASCAR Goody's Dash Series. The
V6-powered Toyota Celica's victory at Kentucky in 2001 was the first by an
overhead-cam, multi-valve engine in NASCAR history. In the recently completed
2003 season Robert Huffman won his record-tying fifth Goody's Dash Series
driver's championship and Toyota won its first NASCAR championship.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030501/TOYLOGO )
SOURCE Toyota Product Communications
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Related links:
http://www.toyota.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030501/TOYLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT:
John Hanson, +1-310-291-5002, or Julie
Alfonso, +1-310-200-5320, or Sam Butto, +1-310-468-7728, all of
Toyota Product Communications, or Greg Thome of Toyota
Motorsports/TRD, +1-714-381-7666
NOTE TO EDITORS: Images of the Corolla XRS and Tundra racing
engine, please visit our media Web site at
http://pressroom.toyota.com
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